Bharat Ratna: India's Highest Civilian Award

Jagran Josh

20-NOV-2013 12:41

India has fashioned a bequest of valiant hearts ever since times immemorial. Perhaps there is not adequate space to evaluate their sacrifices. Yet, we cannot shut our eyes to those people who have made our nation proud by outshining in their own fields and fetching us international gratitude. Bharat Ratna is the uppermost civilian honour, given for extraordinary service towards progression of Art, Science and Literature, and in acknowledgment of Public Service of the highest order. It is also not obligatory that Bharat Ratna be awarded per year.

Specifications

The inventive stipulations for the award described for a circular gold medal which is 35 mm in diameter, with the sun and Hindi fable "Bharat Ratna" above and a flower-patterned circlet below. The overturn was to bear the motto and the state emblem. It was to be worn in the neck from a white colored ribbon. This plan was changed after a year.

Thereafter, the adornment is in the shape of a peepal leaf, around 5.8 cm long, 3.1 mm thick and 4.7 cm wide, of toned bronze. On its facade is imprinted an imitation of the sun of 1.6 cm in diameter, underneath which the words “Bharat Ratna” are embossed in Devnagari script.

Bharat Ratna Award

The terms of Bharat Ratna was initiated in the year 1954. Since that time, many bigwigs, each a whiz in diverse facets of their career has acknowledged this popular award.

Indeed, our past President, Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam is also a recipient of this valued honour (1997). There is no printed stipulation that Bharat Ratna should be honored to Indian citizens only. The award has been granted to a naturalized citizen of India, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better recognized as Mother Teresa (1980) and to 2 non - Indians - Nelson Mandela and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. In the year 2009, the award was bestowed on eminent Indian vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi. In recent times, the Prime Minister Office has resoluted to present the award on renowned scientist Prof. C.N.R. Rao and cricket marvel Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.